Many cases of viral encephalitis are mild and mimic the flu. People with mild encephalitis will likely never know they had the disease. However, encephalitis can change very rapidly, suddenly becoming a serious and life-threatening illness. This makes it important to seek treatment as soon as you suspect a problem.
Definition
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by a viral infection. When there is a viral infection directly in the brain and spinal cord it is called primary encephalitis. If the infection begins somewhere else in the body and spreads to the brain it is called secondary encephalitis.
Symptoms
Many people have symptoms that are mild and resemble the flu, and they get better in a reasonable period of time. These mild symptoms may include joint pain, fever, lethargy, and headache. Symptoms such as tremors, rash, and double vision indicate an illness that's potentially more serious. If seizures, muscle weakness, loss of sensation, confusion, personality changes, loss of consciousness, or hallucinations appear then medical help should be sought immediately. A state of emergency for infants exists if their crying is inconsolable, they're vomiting, show body stiffness, or if the soft spots in their skull are bulging.
Causes
Viral encephalitis can be caused by the same herpes simplex virus that causes fever blisters around the mouth and sores in the genital area. The herpes virus that causes chickenpox and the Epstein-Barr virus that causes mononucleosis can also result in a mild case of encephalitis. Arboviruses spread by mosquitoes and ticks are another source of viral encephalitis. The most well-known example is West Nile encephalitis, which is transmitted by a mosquito bite.
Treatment
If the encephalitis is mild treatment is the same as that for the flu: Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and use acetaminophen to relieve aches and fever. Treatment for more serious viral infections is a challenge because, unlike bacterial infections, there aren't any medications or antibiotics to cure a viral infection. Hospitalization may be necessary so that fluids and pain medications can be given intravenously. Other medications that may be prescribed include corticosteroids to relieve swelling and pressure in the skull and anticonvulsant medications to prevent seizures.
The exception to this standard treatment is encephalitis caused by a herpes virus. This form can rapidly progress into a potentially life-threatening disease but this virus usually responds to antiviral medications such as acyclovir. If the herpes does not respond to acyclovir, another antiviral medication called Foscarnet may be tried.
Complications
A person with severe encephalitis can stop breathing, go into a coma, and die. Recovery from a severe case is also difficult. Patients may face a whole year challenged by fatigue, depression, memory difficulties, and personality changes. Even worse, some complications such as memory loss, lack of muscle coordination, difficulty speaking, hearing and vision problems may be permanent.
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